By Scott Shephard

A cynic would say that there is nothing good about winter life in upper Great Plains: we have to contend with icy cold, piles of snow and blustery northwest winds that seem to come right from the North Pole.

But how can you be cynical when you see simple yet beautiful things likes little pine cones covered in frost? And after the ocasional winter storms pass through, how can you be cynical about the brilliant white blanket of snow that covers the cold earth and the pure blue sky that embraces us?

Do I love winter? No. But I am no cynic. And, if you are looking for other reasons to feel good about South Dakota winters, it won't be long at all before our days start getting longer. To me that means that summer must be just around the corner. . . 

Canon 5DII 1/250s f/3.2 ISO250 100mm